Filament drafting device for a spinning machine



Feb. 22, 1966 lHEl BEPPU 7 3,235,914

FILAMENT DRAFIING DEVICE FOR A SPINNING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

5' IHEI BEPPU ATTORNEY Feb. 22, 1966 [HE] BEPPU 3,

FILAMENT DRAFTING DEVICE FOR A SPINNING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 IUHHH 22 f l I 11 l 5i l H INVENTOR.

IHEI BEPPU BYga AT ORNEY United States Patent ()fiice 3,235,914 PatentedFeb. 22, 1966 3,235,914 FILAMEN'I DRAFTING DEVICE FOR A SPINNING MACHINEIhei Beppu, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan, assignor to Kabushiki-KaishaTakeiri Seisakusho, Nagoya, Japan Filed Sept. 10, 1962, Ser. No. 222,290

Claims priority, application Japan, Sept. 12, 1961, 36/445,690; Dec. 5,1961, 36/60,342; Dec. 12, 1961, 36/ 61,304

10 Claims. (Cl. 19-255) This invention relates to apron band typedrafting devices for spinning machines.

In this type of drafting device it is highly desirable that the bandsgrip the filaments between them, with uniform pressure throughout thearea of contact. Such a quality assures uniformity of yarn and avoidsseverance or breakage.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a draftingdevice of the type mentioned, wherein the gripping pressure between thecontacting areas of the upper and lower apron bands is uniform over theentire area of contact, thereby assuring yarn of high and uniformquality.

A further object is to provide a drafting device of the type mentionedwherein the upper tenser and upper roller are capable of individual orindependent motion toward and from the lower band.

Yet another object is to provide a drafting device as in the precedingparagraph, wherein the force acting to urge the upper tenser intocontact with the lower may be varied, to thereby equalize the forceswith which the tensers are urged toward each other, with the forcesurging together the upper and lower rollers.

Still another object is to provide a drafting device of the typementioned which enables ready variation of the pressure between thecontacting areas of the upper and lower bands, in accordance with thecondition of the surfaces thereof.

Another object is to provide a drafting device of the type mentionedwherein the upper tenser and upper roller may be easily released andpivoted to a raised position free and clear of the lower tenser androller, and, if desired, easily completely detached.

Other objects and advantages will become clear to those skilled in theart, after a study of the following detailed description, in connectionwith the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG- URE 1 but with certainparts omitted for clarity of illustration; I FIGURE 3 is a sideelevation of a second or modified form;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan of the form depicted at FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a third modification, and

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view corresponding to FIG- URE 5.

Referring in detail to FIGS. 1 and 2, 7 identifies a horizontal rod ofthe machine, to which is fixed, as by means of a machine screw, notshown, a retaining or drafting frame or support 6. As is seen from FIG.2, this frame includes a pair of spaced parallel side walls 6a and 6b ofidentical shape. At their forward reduced ends the two walls are fixedto the respective ends of lower tenser 10 to support the same. The midportions of the upper edges of the walls are slotted to receive with asmooth fit, the ends of the shaft 13 of upper roller 14. The slots aregenerally arcuate about the axis of symmetry of the curved forward edgeof tenser 11.

At the rearward portions of their upper edges, walls 6a and 612 havefixed pins 4, 4', aligned in a direction parallel with the axes of thetwo rollers. A tenser fitting frame 5 comprises a generally U-shapedbody portion including arms 5a, 5b and a connecting base or bight. Attheir distal ends the arms are interconnected by, and support, uppertenser 11. Each of these arms is provided with a bearing or hole, bywhich the frame is mounted upon pins 4 for pivoting about the axisthereof. A rod 3 is preferably integrally connected at its one end, withthe central portion of the bight of frame 5 and extends reverselyforwardly over the upper band 12 passing about tenser 11 and roller 14.A weight 2 is mounted upon rod 3 for sliding adjustment therealong, andis fixed in a selected position of adjustment by set screw 1, Lower band9 passes about tenser 10 and lower roller 8, the latter being journaledin bearing block 62 fixed to rod 7 and, conjointly with frame 6 formingsupport means.

In a manner obvious from inspection of FIG. 1, weight 2 effects a momenton frame 5, counterclockwise about the axis of pins 4, 4, thus urgingupper tenser 11 downwardly toward lower tenser 10, so that the reactionforce between tensers may be varied by a corresponding adjustment of theweight on and along rod 3. Since upper roller 14 is free to pivotdownwardly in and along the slots in walls 6a and 6b, the weight of theroller 14 urges downwardly the adjacent end of the pass of band 12 incontact with band 9. Considering the area of the two bands in contact,it is clear that by appropriate adjustment of weight 2 on and along rod3, the pressure between the bands over the area mentioned may be madeuniform.

The form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is for use with shortfibers. At FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown a form for spinning longfibers. In this form retaining frame 6' is supported by and uponhorizontal bar 19 and has two integrally-connected laterally spaced,vertical side walls which are identical in shape and form and includeslots opening through their upper edges to receive with a smooth fit theends of shaft 13', to which roller 14 is attached. Lower roller 8 isjournaled in a bearing block 6; fixed with bar 19 and, conjointly withplate 18, bar 19 and frame 6' forming support means. A pair ofhorizontally aligned pins 4a and 4b are fixed in the forward edge of therespective walls of frame 6' and each receives with a smooth fit, theaperture in the respective distal end of a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls 50 and 5d of tenser fitting frame 5'. The frame includes a plateportion 5e by which the walls are integrally connected. Upper tenser 11is mounted in and supported at its ends, by the forward ends of the armsof frame 5. A weight 2' is carried by plate portion 5e and is secured inposition thereon by set screw 1'. This weight may be made adjustableforwardly and rearwardly, by a slot not shown, in portion 5e throughwhich screw 1 projects.

Retaining plate 18 for lower tenser 10' has a pair of parallel,laterally-spaced slots 17 therein. See FIG. 4. Each slot issubstantially parallel with the common plane of shaft 13', pins 4a, 4b,and upper tenser 11, and receives with a smooth sliding fit, arespective one of a pair of depending lugs 16 integral with the sidewalls of the upper tenser fitting frame, so that movement of the frameis limited to pivoting about the common axis of pins 4:: and 4b. It isnoted that the axes of shaft 13, pins 4a, 4b, and tenser 11, lie in acommon plane as indicated by line IIIIII, FIG. 3, so that frame 5 isessentially unaffected by tension in band 12 and responds substantiallyexclusively, to the downward force of weight 2. Thus, by the properselection of weight 2, or by its adjustment forwardly or rearwardly onand along portion 5e of frame 5', the pressure between the contactingareas of the upper and lower bands 12' and 9' may be equalized over theentire area.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a third modification in which horizontal rod 7 may bethe same as in FIG. 1. A base 25 is secured to rod 7 and includes a pairof parallel, upwardly-directed, spaced parallel arms having a pair ofaligned pins 26 affixed to and extending from the respective arms.

The retaining frame or support means 6" comprises a pair of spacedvertical identical side walls 6c and 6d, each of which is provided witha slot such as 27, FIG. 5, slidably fitting a respective one of pins 26.The lower tenser 10" is carried by a fixed retaining plate 18 which isfunctionally integral with rod 7 and which has therein, a pair oflaterally-spaced parallel slots, one of which is identified at 17, FIG.5. The forward end of each wall of frame 6" is formed as a hook such as24, FIG. 5. Each hook has a smooth sliding fit within its slot in plate18' and projects forwardly beneath the plate so that, in conjunctionwith pins 26 and slots 27, previously described, the frame may havelimited translation in the forward and rearward direction parallel withplate 18. At their upper edges, side walls 6c and 6d are provided withtransversely-aligned slots each of which receives with a smooth fit, therespective ends of shaft 13 to which upper roller 14 is fixed, so that,as in the preceding species, the roller may have limited translation inand along the slot. Since all rollers may be duplicates, they have beendesignated by the same reference numeral.

Lower roller 3 is journaled in a bearing block 6g fixed to rod 7. Block6g, rod 7, base 25, and retaining plate 18' are rigidly associated andfixed with respect to each other and to the base frame of the machineand, as a result, together with frame 6", form support means.

The upper tenser fitting frame 5" consists of two side walls integrallyconnected at their upper edges by plate 5f. These walls at their forwardportions mount upper tenser 11" between them. At their rearward portionseach wall is provided with one of a pair of aligned apertures eachreceiving a respective one of a pair of aligned pins 40 and 4d fixed toframe 6" so that frame 5" may pivot slightly about the common axis ofthe pins, to thereby move upper tenser 11 toward and from lower tenser10". The forward edge of plate 5 is curled upwardly as indicated at 22,to retain the straight central portion of a U-shaped wire spring 20. Thetwo leg portions of the spring are coiled, as clearly shown upon FIG. 5,to fit about respective aligned pins 21, 21, carried by frame 6". Anysutiable means, not shown, are fixed with frame 6" to engage and holdthe short projecting ends of the spring against clockwise rotation, asviewed upon FIG. 5. Thus the spring acts to yieldingly urge frame 5"into counterclockwise pivotal movement and, thus urges tenser 11" towardtenser 10". Means not shown, may be provided to adjust the tension ofspring and to thus vary the force with which it urges tenser 11"downwardly. Or of course, springs of different tensions may besubstituted as desired.

The operation is essentially the same as in the two species previouslydescribed. Since the upper roller 14 and upper tenser 11" are mountedfor independent motion toward and from lower roller 8" and lower tenser10", respectively, selection of a spring 20 of suitable tension, enablesequalization of the pressure over the entire area of contact of theupper and lower bands 12" and 9". Aligned pins 23, 23' fixed in therespective side walls of frame 6" are so disposed as to limit thedownward pivotal movement of the spring about the axis of pins 21. Thusit is possible to raise upper assembly comprising frames 5" and 6", byfirst sliding it upwardly in a direction parallel with plate 18', untilhooks 24 are free of the plate. Thereafter the assembly may be pivotedclockwise about the axis of pins 26 to raise the upper tenser and rollerfree of the lower ones. If desired the entire assembly may then beremoved simply by slidingit off pins 26.

Restoration of the assembly to operating position is equal- 1y facile.

The present specification describes the invention for the purposes ofthe disclosure. It is however, intended to cover all changes,modifications and combinations of the embodiments shown, which do notdepart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having now fully disclosed the invention what is claimed is:

1. In a filament drafting device for a spinning machine, a lower tenserand lower roller about which a lower apron band passes, a support meansfor said lower tenser, said lower roller having an axis of rotation infixed rela tion with said support means, an upper roller journaled insaid support means for movement under its own weight toward contact withsaid lower roller, a frame mounted on said support means for pivotalmovement relatively thereto, about an axis parallel with the axis ofsaid rollers, an upper tenser fixed with said frame and pivotabletherewith toward contact with said lower tenser, means operating uponsaid frame to yieldingly urge said upper tenser about said axis, towardsaid lower tenser, and an apron band passing about said upper rollersand said upper tenser.

2. The device of claim 1, said last-named means comprising a weightconnected with said frame and adjustable relatively thereto in adirection normal to parallel said axis to thereby vary the force urgingsaid tensers together.

3. The device of claim 1, said parallel axis lying between said upperroller and upper tenser and in a plane common with the axes thereof. v

4. The device of claim 3, said support means including a fixed retainingplate supporting said lower tenser, there being a slot in said plategenerally parallel with said plane, and a lug on said frame slidablyfitting said slot.

5. The device ofclaim 1, said last-named means comprising a springacting between said support and said frame to yieldingly urge saidtensers toward contact.

6. An apron band type drafting device for a spinning machine,comprising, a support including integrally-connected laterally-spacedvertical side walls, a lower tenser fixed in and between the forwardportion of said walls, a lower roller journaled for rotation on an axisfixed with and in spaced parallel relation with said lower tenser, aframe including laterally-spaced integrally-connected parallel arms, anupper tenser fixed to and supported by and between the forward distalends of said arms, an upper roller journaled in and between said sideWalls of said support means mounting the rearward ends of said arms tosaid side walls, respectively, for movement about an axis parallel withsaid roller and said tensers, a rod fixed with said arms, and extendingnormal to said axis and over said tensers, and a weight mounted on saidrod for fixation in adjusted position therealong, each said side wall ofsaid support having a slot opening through its top edge to receive saidupper roller, said slots being transversely aligned and arcuate aboutthe leading edge of said upper tenser when in operating relation withrespect to said lower tenser and upper and lower apron bands, eachpassing about its tenser and roller.

7. An apron band type drafting device for a spinning machine,comprising, a lower roller journaled for rotation about a fixed axis, alower tenser fixed in spaced parallel relation forwardly of said lowerroller, a support adjacent said lower roller and including a pair oftransversely-spaced vertical side walls, a tenser frame including a pairof parallel transversely-spaced arms each pivoted at its rearward end toa respective one of said walls for pivoting about a first axis parallelwith said lower roller and tenser, an upper tenser fixed with andsupported by and between said arms at their forward ends, for movementtoward and from contact with said lower tenser, there being a pair oftransversely-aligned slots in said walls opening upwardly through thetop edges thereof, an upper roller having its shaft ends journaled insaid slots for rotation on an axis parallel with said lower roller andfor translation in and along said slots toward and from contact withsaid lower roller, the axis of said upper roller, said first axis andsaid upper tenser, lying substantially in a common plane, upper andlower apron bands each passing about a respective tenser and roller andhaving contiguous parallel passes, and a weight removably and adjustablymounted on said frame to urge said upper tenser toward contact with saidlower tenser.

8. The drafting device of claim 7, a fixed plate mounting said lowertenser and having therein a pair of parallel laterally-spaced slotsgenerally parallel with said plane, and a pair of lugs each fixed withand depending from the forward portion of a respective one of said arms,each said lug having a smooth sliding fit within a respective one ofsaid slots for guided movement in a respective one of two laterallyspaced vertical forward and rearward planes.

9. An apron band type drafting device for a spinning machine,comprising, a lower roller journaled for rotation on a fixed axis, alower tenser fixed forwardly of said lower roller, a lower apron bandextending about said lower roller and lower tenser, a fixed base, asupport, means mounting said support on said base for translation in theforward and rearward direction, a tenser frame including a pair oflaterally-spaced, integrally-connected, parallel arms, an upper tensercarried by and between said arms at their forward ends, means mountingthe rearward ends of said arms to said support for movement about apivot axis parallel with said tensers, an upper roller journalmi in saidsupport for rotation parallel with, and for translation toward and fromcontact with said lower roller, an upper apron band passing about saidupper tenser and said upper roller, and spring means carried by saidsupport and engaging said tenser frame to effectively urge said frame topivotal movement about said pivot axis to urge said upper tenser towardcontact with said lower tenser.

10. The drafting device of claim 9, said first-named means comprising apair of aligned pins fixed with said base, said support comprising apair of laterally-spaced parallel vertical side walls each having arespective one of a first pair of transversely aligned slots, said firstpair of slots extending forwardly and rearwardly and slidably receivinga corresponding one of said pins, a fixed plate mounting said lowertenser and having therein a second pair of laterally-spaced parallelslots extending forwardly and rearwardly, each said arm having a hookedforward end extending with a smooth fit through a respective slot ofsaid second pair of slots and engaging forwardly beneath said plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,304,885 12/1942Cobb 19247 2,717,425 9/1955 Noguera 19-255 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,155,30211/1957 France.

807,372 6/1951 Germany. 359,837 10/ 1931 Great Britain. 527,189 10/ 1940Great Britain. 737,452 9/ 1955 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Rubisch German application 1,097,868, printed J an. 19,1961.

DONALD W. PARKER, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A FILAMENT DRAFTING DEVICE FOR A SPINNING MACHINE, A LOWER TENSERAND LOWER ROLLER ABOUT WHICH A LOWER APRON BAND PASSES, A SUPPORT MEANSFOR SAID LOWER TENSER, SAID LOWER ROLLER HAVING AN AXIS OF ROTATION INFIXED RELATION WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AN UPPER ROLLER JOURNALED INSAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT UNDER ITS OWN WEIGHT TOWARD CONTACT WITHSAID LOWER ROLLER, A FRAME MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR PIVOTALMOVEMENT RELATIVELY THERETO, ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH THE AXIS OFSAID ROLLERS, AN UPPER TENSER FIXED WITH SAID FRAME AND PIVOTABLETHEREWITH TOWARD CONTACT WITH SAID LOWER TENSER, MEANS OPERATING UPONSAID FRAME TO YEILDINGLY URGE SAID UPPER TENSER ABOUT SAID AXIS, TOWARDSAID LOWER TENSER, AND AN APRON BAND PASSING ABOUT SAID UPPER ROLLERSAND SAID UPPER TENSER.